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Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II

Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II - multipurpose fighter of the fifth generation, created in the United States, to replace the aircraft was in service: F-15, F-16, F-18, F-111 and others. Start re-scheduled for 2008-2009 years.

Development of the aircraft program F-35 LightningII

In 2001, the final version of the new fighter design was chosen in the program for a new generation strike fighter. two cars were selected for the final test. The first company manufactured by Boeing and was designated as a model X-32, and the second was developed by Lockheed Martin with X-35 designation, which later became known as F-35 Lightning II. But the state program provided for the further development of a single machine, this created the conditions to be met by the fighter.

First of all, at the request USAF fighter should have shortened the length of the takeoff roll and a small distance when landing, obliged to make a vertical takeoff and landing. The most important was that the fighter should be effectively used as a naval and ground forces. This unit should have a number of advantages over machines that were made earlier.

In order to find out which car is better, tests were carried out, the results of which revealed that the model X-35 has significantly better performance. This model could produce a horizontal take-off from the site, the length of which - just 150 meters and after that could qualitatively hold horizontal landing. Furthermore, X-35 indicators can reach supersonic velocities.

The uniqueness of this model has the structure diagram of the system of vertical thrust, which had a separate fan, not as in other such devices through the use of the main engine. This machine was designed for use by countries that belong to NATO. Financing for this project is not just the US government, but also European countries. This car purchasing plans, and Israel.

The first F-35 LightningII aircraft was manufactured in the autumn of 2011 and was transferred to the British Air Force in 2012. This device on the territory of England was the final test and served to train pilots for the further use of this fighter. For the first time the car made a detachment from the runway in February 2011 year in the US at the airbase in California. On this basis, flight tests were also conducted, which confirmed the high flight performance of the device at various flight regimes. The fighter was introduced to the general public in the summer of 2013 at the air show in Le Bourget.

The first country that received the first order F-35 type of aircraft, became Israel, and in the year 2014, this country has signed a contract for delivery of the second batch. This machine is also collected on the Italian territory, the first machine was ready in early spring 2015 years and had the designation AL-1. The plans of Italian producers to collect 90 such devices primarily for the Netherlands.

Design features fifth-generation fighter F-35 Lightning II

In the development of this machine designers have borrowed many technical solutions from the previous F-22 fighter. It should be noted that the designers worked on three versions of this aircraft, which differ in the type of takeoff and landing. The base model had the ability to produce a standard takeoff from a take-off and landing using a run on the strip. The modification with the designation F-35B produced a rather short take-off for take-off, and landing was carried out in a vertical way. The third model F-35C took off from the aircraft carrier with the help of a special catapult, and landed due to the use of a ship's airfighter.

This machine is equipped with most recent electronic equipment such as radar AN / APG-81, which makes it very efficient to detect both ground and air targets. In the avionics unit includes a variety of systems, including the station with phasing provided by the antenna AN / APG-81. The most noteworthy EOS system, which can be used to produce a set of operations, namely:

§ to fix the launch of ballistic missiles in groups at a distance of 1,3 thousands of kilometers, while you can follow their flight and calculate their final goal;

§ to detect at a great distance enemy equipment both on the ground and in the air;

§ to conduct high-quality navigation at any time of the day or night;

§ to signal a possible missile attack by the enemy towards the fighter;

§ to effectively calculate the location of the enemy fire artillery points;

§ to carry out an accurate launch of missiles on aircraft that fly over the F-35.

Besides the above systems and advantages drive has been established a plurality of computing systems. For MADL transmission system has been installed, which can operate over a wide range. This system has many tools that can protect it from enemy interference noise, and protection from interception rate.

A special feature of the layout of the aircraft is the pilot's helmet, which is equipped with a multitude of functions. The helmet for the F-35 is designated HMDS, it allows the pilot to look through the walls of the aircraft itself. This effect is obtained due to the multitude of cameras installed on board, which are interfaced with a helmet. It allows the pilot to make a survey as if the aircraft does not exist at all. This equipment was developed in the UK for the F-35 bomber. Currently, there is only one helmet of this design, but for its manufacture is taken by an Israeli company with the support of the American firm Rockwell Collins. In the plans of manufacturers to equip with these helmets all aircraft type F-35 from 2016 year.

The power plant is represented by engine type F135, which was developed by Pratt & Whitney, with the support of Rolls-Royce Defence. According to manufacturers, this assertion powerplant enables the aircraft to withstand the overload in 9 g. This engine equips the machine with a capacity of 13 thousand kgs and in afterburning 19,5 thousand kgs. The resource usage of the motor reaches 4 thousand hours of flight.

Plane F-35 has enough powerful weapons, which allows to carry out military operations with great efficiency. The structure of weapons includes missiles of air-land with the designation of AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles and AIM-120 AMRAAM. Also it has a winged fighter type Storm Shadow missiles. The greatest power of weapons possessed class JDAM bombs that weighed 910 kilos. The composition of the bomb loads were included guided bombs AGM-154. To destroy enemy ground vehicles used anti-tank missiles.

At this time there is a development of missiles to destroy water bodies. For aircraft F-35 firm General Dynamics has produced a large-caliber gun chetyrehstvolnuyu with the designation GAU-22 / A. A feature of the device is the ability to launch missiles and bombs while flying at supersonic speed. The manufacturers of this equipment are planning to develop a system that will produce from the aircraft launch nuclear missiles V61 type.

Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II photo

Work on the creation of a new fighter were carried out in the firms "Boeing" and "Lockheed-Martin." The fighter is produced in three versions: CTOL (for the BBC), CV (BMC), STOVL (short takeoff and vertical landing).

Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II photo

JSF fighter flight characteristics do not differ from the characteristics of the aircraft of this class, standing on top of the world armed to the beginning of the XXI century., However, the latest on-board notation, installed on the aircraft, will provide a distinct advantage in combat aircraft before the enemy.

New F-35. Upgrading fighter to F-35A, F-35B, A-35Cs.

Tactical fighter F-35 Cs test flights resumed after a break caused by emergencies occurred in the tests conducted on the US aircraft carrier "Nimitz". Resumed flight program that runs under the control of the US Navy for a new generation of fighters.

Underway testing of takeoffs and landings from the deck of an aircraft carrier with the ability to achieve the best results of all systems and the safe operation of aircraft and carrier services.

The program for the creation of a new 5-generation fighter, costing about 400 billion dollars, was suspended after the engine of Pratt & Whitney was installed on F-35. Due to malfunctions with the engine systems, the F-35 debut in the UK was postponed at the annual aviation exhibition, the test flight schedule was disrupted with a backlog of 45 days. The complications with F-35 engines have sharpened the competition for the purchase of US Navy fighters. Some experts are in favor of buying for the US Navy as a carrier-based carrier fighter, a Boeing F / A-18E / Fs fighter.

US Air Force plans to prepare the aircraft group consisting of 12-24 2016 aircraft by August, completely ready to perform tactical missions.

The company Lockheed Martin offers to implement F-35 plane, discount for international partners who are willing to participate in financing the project. The company plans to realize 750 aircraft, including 612 units in the country: the United Kingdom, Italy, Australia, Norway, the Netherlands, Denmark, Turkey, Canada, Japan, Israel and South Korea. The preliminary price of F-35 80-fighter is 85 million. Dollars from the beginning of the main supplies in 2019 year.

The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning 2 is a model range of single-seat fighter equipped with an 1 engine, designed for all-weather flights and various tactical missions. The aircraft belongs to the 5 generation models and capable of performing the functions of attack aircraft, reconnaissance of enemy air defense systems and data collection on the conduct of hostilities.

Developed three basic models:

F-35A, with a standard takeoff and landing (CTOL);

F-35B, short takeoff and landing (CA);

A-35Cs combat aircraft based Catobar (CF).

The plane was designed and built by Lockheed Martin, with the active participation of Northrop Grumman, Pratt & Whitney and BAE Systems.

The first flight took place in December 15 2006 years. The Ministry of Defence plans to acquire 2443 aircraft F-35 for the US Air Force, Marine Corps and the US Navy. rearmament program of the US armed forces is designed to 2037 years.

F-35 was developed by the JSF program to replace models in the US Armed Forces F-16, A-10, F / A-18 and AV-8B tactical fighters.

US Navy intends to buy 480 F-35Cs, US Marine Corps, a total of 80 units of F-35Cs.